The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has renewed its communications framework with Cable & Wireless for the national communications network PNN3.

PNN3 is a service that allows the secure transmission of data between all UK police forces, criminal justice organisations and related agencies. The agency said that it negotiated a reduced cost for the two year extension, which was initially a five year deal. The NPIA said that this has saved it more than £1m, and that there was also scope for further savings to be made.

A spokesman for the agency told GGC that the network is PSN compliant. The agency did not respond in time when asked about the value of the contact, but the spokesman indicated that it was unlikely to reveal the value of either the current deal or the previous contract, due to commercial sensitivity.

Some of the services that are provided to forces via PNN3 include the Police National Computer, the National DNA Database, Visor, mobile information, the Police National Database and Ident1.

NPIA said it has worked with Cable & Wireless to make the service more user friendly and efficient to ensure it continues to meet the communications needs of police forces across the country. Central management by the agency has also removed the need for individual procurement processes by forces, it explained.

Sue Moffatt, NPIA head of commercial and procurement, said: "Communication is the lifeblood of the police service. It is essential that the police service can communicate seamlessly and consistently across the criminal justice system. PNN3 provides a safe and secure network for police officers to store, send, access and record information some of which could provide crucial evidence in an investigation.

"This agreement is also another good example of how the NPIA continues to provide more for less to the police service to help ensure frontline officers are supported," it said.

The initial contract for PNN3 was awarded to Cable & Wireless in 2006. The new deal takes effect from this month.